Wicket type toy game structure



. TRLJ DE.ALJ

ATTORNEYS INVENTOR.

A E TRUDEAU WICKET TYPE TOY GAME STRUCTURE Filed NOV. -l8, 1955 Aug. 6,1957 FIG.

United States Patent I 2,801,854 WICKET TYPE TOY GAME STRUCTURE ArmandE. Trudeau, Holyoke, Mass.

Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547,658

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-127) This invention relates to a toy game structureof the wicket type having an opening therein through which an object maybe directed as for example a croquet ball or other object.

An object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for agame orsport wherein several units of the invention may be distributed about anindoor or outdoor area and the participants may attempt to propel a ballthrough the openings of the individual units in a desired sequence withthe passage of the ball through the same being reflected by the comingto life of a novel figure represented by the structure. Thus the scoringof a player by the passage of his ball through a wicket may be signaledto him and to other players of the game.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy structure especiallyattractive to children which will instill into a child of tender yearsthe desire to participate in playing a game with the unit or using thesame as a toy and in the process of which the childs muscularcoordination-and sense of direction may be exercised and developed.

Another object is to provide a unique toystructure in which a novelfigure is pictorially represented by surface ornamentation on a frontside thereof and as a complement to which a second member may be.movably attached and concealed at the rear side thereof so as to pivotinto an extended position in which it forms in periplrera-l outline andsurface ornamentation a part of the outline and ornamentation of themajor figure in order togive a unique visual effect.

Still another "object of "the invention is to provide a toy or gamestructure of the above nature particularly attractive to children and inwhich the actuation of the secondary member to its extended positionprovides an action shot or panoramic view of the supplementary orcomplementary member coming to rest in completing a pictorialrepersentation as seen from the front of the figure.

The above and other particular objects and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent from the following disclosure thereof as shown by thedrawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a unit embodying the inventionwith the secondary member thereof in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the back side of the unit of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the extended position of thesecondary member on the release of the latch mechanism as actuated by aball passing through the opening of the primary member;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view showing a second form of unitembodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective from the rear of the unit of Fig. 4 with thesecondary member thereof held in retracted position; and

Fig. 6 is a similar perspective showing the extended position.

In the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a wicket member,

r ICC such as the planar figure cutout 1, is formed with the peripheraloutline of a gunman in shooting stance. 0n the front side of the planarcutout is painted the clothing and facial characteristics of a desperadoor Wild West 5 character. The cutout 1 is the primary or major figure ofthe unit and is adapted for vertical support in anupright position bymeans of pedestal supports 2 which are grooved to receive the legs ofthe figure as shown by Figs. 2 and 3. Stakes 3 may also be provided forinsertion in appropriate slots at the underside of the supports 2 fordriving into the ground in an outdoor area.

On the back side of the cutout 1 and pivoted at the upper sectionthereof is a secondary cutout member 4 in the form of an arm and gun inhand of the shooter.

depicted on the face of the cutout 1. The cutout 4 is a complementaryfigure member adapted for movement in a plane adjacent to the plane ofthe cutout 1 and for giving an action shot or panoramic view of theshooter going into action as the arm and gripped gun sweep from theposition of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3. At its inner end the cutout arm ispivoted on a pin 5 with washer 6 and cotter pin 7 holding the same forswinging action. The arm is yieldably tensioned in the direction of theextended position of Fig. 3 by a spring means such as an elastic orrubber band 8 fastened at one end to a looped anchor hook 9 fixedeccentrically of the pivot 5 to the innermost end section of the arm 4and to an anchor hook 10 fixed to the cutout 1 rearwardly of the arm andsubstantially in alignment therewith in its extended position as shownby Fig. 3. As shown by the retracted position of Fig.2 the rubber band 8is stretched beyond the pivot 5 and across the same so that release ofthe arm from its .re-

tracted position will cause its extension in the manner shown by Fig. 3.In the latter position the band 8 may be substantially relaxed so as tomaintain the extended position shown or a stop 1-1 :on the cutout 1 mayhe .located, if desired, in the path of the moving arm to provide anabutment against which the rubber band may snap the arm.

The arm 4 in its retracted position of .Fig. 2 is held by a yieldablelatch means indicated generally by numeral 12 and comprising a yieldablerubber band and a bent wire [rod mounted on a vertical pivot at one sideof the wicket type opening 13 formed between the shooters legs;

of the Z-figure shown by Fig. 1. The latch means includes anintermediate pivot portion at 14, pivotally fastened by verticallyspaced staples 15 fixed adjacent the lateral edge of the opening 13; alower release or trigger arm portion 16 with looped end 17, the triggerarm being bent horizontally from the lower end of the portion 14 andextending transversely of the opening 13; and a latching portion havinga vertical rearwardly offset section at 18 (joined to the portion 14 bya horizontal connection 19 at right angles to the trigger 16), and ahorizontal latch arm 20 extending above the trigger with an inwardlydirected tip end 21 for engagement against the rear face of thecutout 1. The rubber band 22 is tensioned between the offset section 13and a hook 23 fixed at the opposite side of the arched opening in thecutout 1. The band 22 thus yieldably urges the latch into latchingposition with the arm 16 blocking the opening 13 and the tip 21 pivotedagainst the rear face of the cutout.

In latched position the tip 21 is adapted to hold the outer end of themember 4 in overlying position against member 1 and concealed from thefront face of the same. The tip 21 abuts the edge of member 4 which isheld under the tension of rubber band 8 to swing the arm to extendedposition whenever the latch is turned to swing the tip 21 rearwardlyagainst the resistance of the rubber band 22 on the latch at 18. Thelatch will be released in this manner whenever an object such as a ball25, as shown by Fig. 3, is propelled through the archway 13 Patented Aug6, 19.57;

from the front side of the unit. Normally the rubber band 22 will returnthe latch to latching position after passage of the ball through theopening. However, in the simplified arrangement shown the latch ofi'setsection 18 may be carried over the center of the vertical pivot of theportion 14 to be held there by the band 22 as specifically shown by Fig.3. If desired a stop may be pro vided on the member 1 to prevent travelbeyond the in-line condition and insure an automatic return of the latchto latching position. In the form shown the latch may have to bemanually reset if the striking force of the object against the trigger16 is sufiicient to lodge the latch into its full open condition. Inresetting the secondary member 4 to its retracted position forsubsequent operation, the angled rebent side of the tip 21 as at'26forms a cam surface against which the end of member 4 may slide incocking the gun arm of the unit of Figs. l3. I

In Figs. 4, and 6 a second form of unit is depicted wherein thepictorial representation of the major figure 30 is shown as that of apoultry house. The secondary figure is that of a duck 31 which will beswung up onto thetop of the roof when a score is made by an object asthe'ball 25 passing through the opening 32.

As shown by Fig. 5 the yieldable means for the secondary figure is anelastic 33. Inasmuch as the movable member of this unit must swing fromconcealed position to extended position through a substantially greaterpivotal arc the band 33 in concealed position of the member 31 istrained over the pivot 34 at the inner end of the member 31. In theextended position of member 31 the eccentrically mounted elastic band issubstantially in alignment with the body of the figure. The anchoragefor the inner ends of the tensioned elastic band 33 (for the member 31)and band 35 (for the latch 36) may be the common hook 37. In latchingthe member 31 the neck of the duck is engaged in the same manner as theedge of member 3 in Fig. 1.

What is claimed is:

1. A wicket type toy game structure comprising a planar member formedwith an arched opening at the base thereof for passage of a manuallypropelled object and adapted for support in an upright position, theperiphery of said member defining the outline of a novelty figure andthe front side of said member bearing a pictorial representationcharacteristic of the figure with the rear side having a second planarmember pivoted thereon for movement in a plane adjacent to the plane ofthe first member, said second member overlying the rear side of saidfirst member and pivoted at the upper section thereof, and, in oneposition of pivotal movement being concealed from the face of the firstmember with its outer end disposed adjacent the upper edge of saidarched opening, and in another position of movement having the outerportion extending beyond the periphery of said first member, the frontface of said pivoted member bearing a pictorial representation forming acomponent portion of a completed figure with the representation of saidfirst member, yieldable means acting on said pivoted member to swing thelatter to its said extended position, and yieldable latch means mountedon the rear side of said first member engageable with the pivoted memberin said concealed position, said latch means comprising an intermediatepivot portion mounted laterally adjacent the edge of the arched openingon a vertical axis, a releasing arm portion extending horizontally fromthe lower end of said pivot portion transversely of said opening, and alatching portion engageable with said pivot member in said concealedposition thereof extending from the upper end of said intermediate pivotportion, said latching portion including a section rearwardly offsetfrom said intermediate pivot portion and angularly disposed relative tosaid releasing arm portion, the outer end of said latching portion lyingin a horizontal plane with an inwardly directed tip being engageableagainst the rear side of said first member in the path of movement ofthe outer end of said pivoted member whereby movement of said armportion away from said opening causes the disengagement of said latchingportion and release of said pivoted member for panoramic movement to itssaid extended position.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said latch member is a wire rod,and an elastic band tensioned between said otliset section of the upperlatching portion and the first member at the opposite side of saidopening constitutes the yieldable means therefor, and the said yieldablemeans for pivoting the pivoted member comprises an elastic band fixedbetween the inner end of the pivoted member, eccentrically of the pivotthereof, and said first member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS254,200 Crandall Feb. 28, 1882 1,526,663 Cavicchioli Feb. 17, 1925FOREIGN PATENTS 656,623 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1951

